EDITORIALS: Candidates for the leadership of Progressive Conservatives

A bit of an exaggeration of course, but not far off the mark in the sense that the majority of the candidates are unknowns to most Canadians. Yet, almost to a person, each has been very involved with the party and as a parliamentarian in Ottawa.

Here’s a summary of who they are and the policies for which they stand:

Chris Alexander

Credentials or CVServed in Canadian Embassy in Moscow for 6 yearsLiaison officer for Vladimir Putin at G8 summit in Kananaskis, AlbertaCanadian Ambassador to AfghanistanConservative candidate for Ajax-PickeringParliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence Peter MackayCanada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 2013-15

Credentials or CVcalled to the Quebec Bar in 1990Executive Vice-President of the Montreal Economic Institute in 2005Member of Parliament, Beauce, QC, 2006Cabinet: Minister of Industry, 2006Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2008.Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, 2011

Political positionproponent of reforms to CBS/Radio-Canada supporter of revisions to Health Care and its fundingsupports responsible plan for income tax cutspromotes unleashing of Canada’s productive forcessupports free trade of maple syrup

Political positionsupported Bill C-42, passed as The Common Sense Firearms Licensing Actsupported Economic Action Plan, 2013 to financial assist Vets with Funeral expenseshelp reduce bureaucracy within Veterans Affairs dept.created the Veterans Transition Advisory Council to assist in to civiliantransition employmentpromoted natural gas link between Levis and Sante-Claireannual fund raiser in the swim across the St. Lawrence (Quebec to Levis)initiated bill to toughen sentencing against drunk drivers

Political positionpromotes tax reform: reduction, broaden revenue base, making tax system more equitableassist small businesses in becoming more competitivemake housing more affordableassist lower income Canadians

Credentials or CVCanadian businessman, founder of O’Leary Funds and Softkey, television (Dragon’s Den, Shark Tank, Lang and O’Leary Exchange) and radio personality, his Softkey company acquired by Mattel for multimillions, O’Leary was eventually fired by Mattel after the acquisition resulted in significant losses and multiple lawsuits.

Credentials or CVmiddle class family, father started a construction company in Fort McMurray, Albertaannual fund raiser for Cdn Breast cancer Foundation in memory of her motherorthopedic surgeon, clinical pediatric orthopedic specialist (London, Toronto, Ottawa)chair of panel for the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit (due to late Jim Flaherty)

Political positionpromotes screening of new immigrants, refugees, and visitors for anti-Canadian valuessupports cap on government spendingopposes carbon tax on basis that all Canadians will suffer tax increases with itpromotes dismantling of CBCagainst legalization of marijuana

Credentials or CVphysician and health care facility administratorfive tours of duty as a civilian volunteer in AfghanistanPresident of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of ManitobaChief of Staff and site Chief Medical Officer of a regional hospital in ManitobaPhysician of the Year, 2012

Political positionhis emphasis is on reform and modernization of and costs reduction in the Canada Health Actbelieves conservatism is the path to prosperity, personal freedom and opportunityhis goal to refocus the CPC party on issues that matter to Canadians: health care and the economyhis goal also is to retake the conservative brand, reminding Canadians why conservatism matters

Credentials or CVMember of Parliament, Calgary, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015longest-serving Conservative MP in CanadaParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign AffairsParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International CooperationParliamentary Secretary for International Human Rightsone of 35 most influential Indo-Canadians in CanadaPride of India AwardSri Chinmoy Peace Foundation awardVision World organization of Ahmedabad awardVietnamese Canadian Federation award

Political positionopposes Carbon taxsupports proper use of nuclear energy and recycled use of nuclear wasteproposes establishment of community centre to Fight Homegrown terrorismWebsitehttp://electdeepakobhrai.com/

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Erin O’Toole

Credentials or CVHusband, father, former Air Force Captain, lawyer, and volunteer

Political positiondevoted to: ensuring safe communities for Canadians an economy that creates good jobs a fairer tax system

Credentials or CVPresident of Peterson Capital, company that helps finance and support Canada’s leading public and private growth companies in the resource, technology, life science, industrial and other sectorsfounder of the Midland Walwyn Charitable Foundation’s hot breakfast program in five inner Vancouver city Vancouver elementary schoolsformer director and instructor, Junior Achievement of BCextensive mentorship and volunteer leadership, urban First Nations youth in East Vancouver former coach in the Vancouver Thunderbird minor hockey assoc.active Conservative Party member since 1986

Political positionA STRONGER ECONOMY: MORE GROWTH AND FREER TRADEto make Canada the most attractive economic growth opportunity in the worldto end US border hassles, eliminate corporate income tax, and build a digital government with the best modern technologyA SAFER COUNTRY: SAFETY AT HOME AND SECURE BORDERSto ensure personal safety for Canadians at home and abroadto introduce smarter immigration policies, using tiered security screening and increased terrorist surveillancesaying NO today and forever to a values test for citizenshipintegrating The North fully with the rest of the country with Canada’s largest ever infrastructure programA STRONGER PARTYto do more to inspire our members, to listen to our grassroots and to respect our fellow party members and allow them to run nomination campaigns without interference

Credentials or CVMember of Parliament for North Vancouver, 2008 and 2015experienced financial managerSenior Vice President of HSBC in Private BankingParliamentary Secretary to Treasury Board, and eventually to FinanceWorked directly with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Joe Oliverdirector of the BC and Yukon Heart and Stroke Foundationmember of BC Premier’s Asia Pacific Trade Councilmember of the Vancouver City Planning CommissionCEO, King George Financial CorpPolitical positionbelieves his international perspective, extensive real world experience, and his practical approach to conservatism will serve as the most relevant contrast to win the 2019 election for the Conservativespledges: elimination of federal debt more equitable tax reform reform of govt regulation and roadblocks in economy.